Calls to unite Moroccan left-wing parties

Two Moroccan leftist political parties have called for the unification of the country's left-wing parties. The Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS) and the Socialist Democrat Party (PSD) created over the weekend a "unity pole" that will be a first step towards the unification of all the country's left-wing parties, the two organizations said.

Issa Ouardighi, PSD secretary general, told the Moroccan second tv channel 2M that the unification drive involves the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP).

Three Moroccan leftist parties, namely PPS, USFP, and the Organization for Democratic and Popular Action (OADP) are together with nationalist Istiqlal Party grouped in the Democratic Bloc. USFP has been leading since 1998 a center-left coalition government.